Shoe sole press



April 29, 1952 5. J. CAMPIONE SHOE SOLE, PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1948 H HH I I I HTH H HM I BF H T April'29, 1952 5. J. CAMPIONE SHOE SOLE PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29, 1948 INVENTOR. 3

Ap 29, 1952 N 1 s. J. CAMPIONE. 2,594,728

SHOE soufi PRESS Filed May 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE SOLE PRESS Saverio Joseph Campione, North Andover, Mass, assignor to Allied Shoe Machinery Col-11., Haverhill, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 29, 1948, Serial No. 30,053

* are designed and adapted for applying the combining pressure in the process of shaping and attaching of sole elements to shoe uppers.

A press of the general type to which the invention relates is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,420,972, granted May 20, 1947, wherein a generally horizontally disposed pivoted arm is manually adjustable toward and from an inflatable bag and carries an abutment member between which and the bag the work is pressed when the bag is inflated. However, in the patented structure, the abutment member is adapted to receive the work thereon and is mounted for lateral swinging of the work between a loading position and a position in operative relation to the bag; and a relatively large inflating movement of the active surface of the bag is relied upon to bring that surface into pressing engagement with the work. Also, in the patented structure, permissible deformation of the bag, under pressure, is relied upon to accommodate variations in the shape, and heel heights, of work being acted upon by the press.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a press generally comparable to the said patented press but having provision for substantial preliminary adjustment of the shape of the inflatable bag, whereby the press more readily and efiectively may accommodate shoe structures of widely differing base contours and having widely varying heel heights. According to the invention, one substantial portion of the bag rests on a fixed support and another substantial portion thereof rests on a support which is adjustable to set its portion of the bag in any of various relationships to the portion on the fixed support, with a mid-region of the bag flexing and bending in the nature of a hinge between the two said bag portions.

Another object is to provide one or more abutments for coaction with an inflatable bag and automatically pressure-actuated into engagement with work inserted in the press in response to pedal actuation of control means whose further actuation in the same direction effects inflation of the bag while the abutment continues unyieldingly held in its work-engaging position.

Still another object is to provide a press hav- 3 Claims. (Cl. 12-36) 2 ing an inflatable bag for pressing coaction with one Or more abutments against which the work is pressed, and wherein the bag is adjustable to change the shape of its work-engaging surface, and the abutment is adjustable to coact with any particular adjusted shape of the work-engaging surface of the bag.

A further object is to provide'a shoe sole press leaving an inflatable bag for pressing coaction with a work-engaging abutment, and wherein control means is operable in one direction to effect actuation of the abutment to a work-engaging position and is further operable in the same direction to eiiect inflation of the bag while the abutment is maintained unyieldingly in work engagement, said control means maintaining the bag inflated and the abutment in work engagement throughout a substantial reverse movement of the control means, after which a further reverse movement opens the bag to atmosphere followed by release of said abutment.

Yet another object is to provide a two-press unit wherein each press has an inflatable bag for coaction with a work-engaging abutment, and wherein a pedal actuator effects movement of the abutment of one press into work engagement and simultaneously vents the bag of the other press to atmosphere, followed by inflation of the bag of said one press simultaneously with the release of the abutment of the other press.

It is, moreover, a purpose and object of the invention generally to improve the structure, operation and effectiveness of presses and more especially shoe sole presses having an inflatable bag coacting with a work-engaging abutment.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a press embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, showing two similar presses supported on a common base;

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the upper structure of one of the presses, with the hand wheel removed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the abutments and their supporting bar;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View approximately on line 6-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the bag-supporting members;

Fig. 8 is a. top plan view of the right hand bagsupporting'member, per se 3 Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of line 99 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on line Iii-40 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a diagramattic view illustrating the various control-valve positions; and

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view on line I2-I2 of Fig. 1, on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, two generally similar presses are shown in Fig. 2, mounted in side by side relation on the upper part I of a common base I2 which rises to a suitable height from the floor, or other support.

Each press comprises a vertically disposed yoke I4 whose lower portion I6 is secured to part I0 of the base, with an upper surface thereof providing a substantial generally horizontally disposed platform cn which the inflatable and defiatable bag I8 is supported in a manner later to be described. The upper end of the yoke I4 has rigidly formed thereon the vertically disposed generally cylindrical sleeve 20 within which the smaller diameter sleeve 22 is slidably engaged, the sleeve 22 being interiorly threaded for accommodating the screw 24 which is manually adjustable in the sleeve 22 by means of the hand wheel 26 fixed on the upper end of screw 24.

The lower end of screw 24 has swivel connection at 23 to a block 30 which is slidably connected to a bar 32 pivotally mounted at 34 on the yoke I4. The bar has a longitudinal groove 33 extending along the margin of its upper edge, and block 30 is grooved at 36 to fit over bar 32, with a rib 31 on one of its groove walls for slidably engaging in the groove 33 of the bar. Hence, as the bar 32 swings about its pivot 34, block 30 can tilt relative to screw 24 and the bar and block can slide relatively, as may be requisite for different positions of the bar.

The margin along the lower edge of bar 32 also is grooved, as at 38, and an abutment unit indicated generally at 40 is suspended from the bar. As best seen in Figs. and 6, the unit 40 comprises a bracket 42 whose upper relatively thick edge is grooved as at 44 for fitting over the lower edge portion of the bar.32, with two springpressed balls 46 frictionally engaging in groove 38 for maintaining the bracket on the bar while permitting its sliding adjustment along the bar.

A lower face of the bracket is serrated at 48 for c oacting with the serrated surface of the slotted projection 50 of the abutment member 52 when the abutment member is secured by screw 54 in a selected set adjustment on the bracket. Further outward toward its free end, the bar 32 has the series of holes 56 therein for selec tive setting of a second abutment member 58 in any of various positions along the bar. Member 58 is deeply grooved at 60 for fitting over the under edge of the bar, with aligned holes in its opposite side walls, through which and a selected hole 56 in the bar, a pin 62 may be inserted to secure the member 58 in any selected setting along the bar.

Sleeve 22 has an enlargement 64 at its upper end to which a pair of similar links 66 are pivotally connected at 68, at opposite sides thereof, the other end of each link 66 being pivotally connected at I0, each to one of a pair of similar levers I2 which are pivotally mounted at I4 on opposite sides of yoke I4. The levers I2 tend by gravity to swing clockwise about their pivots, in Fig- 1, and the outer ends of the levers preferably are equipped with a weight I6 to augment their unitary gravitational tendency. However, the positions of the levers I2 are determined by bell-crank levers I8 which are pivoted at 80 on opposite side of yoke I4. One arm of each bellcrank has a roller 82 on which the levers rest, respectively, the other arm of each bell-crank being connected by a link 84 to the stem 86 of a piston 88 which is operable in cylinder 90 by means later to be described.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a clockwise swinging of levers 12, as viewed in Fig. 1, will elevate the sleeve 22 and screw 24 to produce an upward or clockwise swinging of bar 32 about its pivot 34, and that a counter-clockwise swinging of levers I2 will produce a downward or counter-clockwise swinging of bar 32.

The inflatable and deflatable bag I3 is mounted on the two retaining members 92, 94 which are supported respectively on the horizontally disposed lugs 96, 98 of yoke I4. Members 92, 94 are generally U-shape in plan and are oppositely arranged with the ends of their U-legs abutting each other, or substantially so. As best seen in Fig. 9, member 92 is rigidly secured to yoke I4 as by the screws I00, it having a wall I02 for engaging under the bag I8 at the forepart oi the bag, and having two rib elements I04 depending from wall I02 and resting on the said lugs 96. The rib elements I04 project substantially beyond the ends of the U-legs of member 92, as at I05, and they are notched at I06 for constituting generally semi-circular bearings for the hinge portion Hi3 on the member 94. The ends of the rib elements I04 are adapted to rest on the said lugs 98.

Member 94 has the generally arched wall III) for engaging under the rear portion of bag I8, and the hinge portion I08 is formed at the inner end of this wall. A screw H2 is threaded through the outer end of portion I6 of the yoke, with its end engaging the under side of wall IIO. A lug H4 projects inward from each side wall of member 34 and each lug engages under the arcuate surface H6 of a rib element I04, thereby to maintain the hinge portion I08 against displacement .out of the bearing notches I06. Hence,fby adjusting the screw II2, the member 94 may be adjusted about the axis of hinge portion I03 to vary the relation of one portion of bag I8 with respect to the other portion. This adjustment adapts the bag I8 to effectively accommodate and act upon shoes having a wide variety of shapes and heights of heels.

The bag I8 rests loosely on the walls I02 and III) of the members 92, 94, with its edges within and restrained by the upper marginal portions of members 92, 94.

Inflation of the bag may be effected by compressed air from any suitable source. The fluid, under pressure, is conducted to the lower portion of a base I2 through a conduit II8 which may have therein suitable manual control valves I20, I22. Two generally similar pedal-controlled valves are mounted in or on base I2, they being indicated generally at I24, I26 in Figs. 1 and 2, and in the diagrammatic showings of Fig. 11. Referring to Fig. 11, each valve I24, I26 has a rotatable valve member I28 operable within a valve casing I30 by means of the pedal I32 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) which is fixed mid-way of its length to a pedal shaft I34 leading into the casing I30 of valve I24, with the valve member I28 of this valve fixed on its inner end. A lever I36 is fixed on the pedal shaft exteriorly of valve I24 and is connected by link I38 to a similar lever I40 which is fixed on the outer end of a short shaft I42 of valve I26, the inner end of this shaft I42 having the valve member I28 of valve I26 fixed thereon. As shown in Fig. 12, these inter-connected levers I36, I40 are arranged and linked together in a relation which is such that a rotation of lever I36 in either direction will result in equal but opposite rotation of lever I40.

According to the invention, the pedal valves I24, I26 not only control the inflating and deflating of bag I6 but also control the actuations of piston 88 which, in turn, effects the raising and lowering of the abuments 40, 58 relative to bag I8. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that a conduit I44 leads from the pedal valve I24 to the bag I 8 of the left-hand press, this conduit leading through the wall I02 of member 92 which is provided with a hole I03, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 9. A conduit I46 leads from this same pedal valve I24 to the cylinder 90 which is associated with the right-hand press in Fig. 2. Similarly, conduits I48, I50 lead from the pedal valve I26 respectively to the bag I8 of the right-hand press and to the cylinders 90- associated with the left-hand press, in Fig. 2.

Each valve member I28 of the pedal valves I24, I26 is diagrammatically represented in Fig. 11 as having two peripheral grooves I52. I54, and each valve casing I 30 is portrayed as having four ports spaced at ninety degree intervals around the axis of each valve. The supply conduit II8 branches at II9, I2I, with branch II9 connected to one port of valve I24 and branch I2I connected to one port of valve I26. The ports directly opposite the branches IIO, I2I are vent ports, indicated at I23 and I25 respectively.

The conduits I44 and I46 are connected respectively to the other two ports of valve I24, and the conduits I48 and I50 are connected respectively to the other two ports of valve I26.

In Fig. 11, the middle pair of inter-connected valves I24, I26 illustrate a neutral position of the valves, as when the pedal I32 is in its horizontal position of Fig. 12. A slight counter-clockwise depression of the pedal from its position in Fig. 12 actuates the pedal valves to their positions represented by the pair of inter-connected valves I24, I26 shown in Fig. 11 next to the left of the middle pair. This opens the bag I8 of the righthand press, in Fig. 2, to atmosphere, and simultaneously admits air under pressure to the cylinder 90 associated with the left-hand press, thereby to actuate the abutments 40, 58 of thi latter press to their shoe-engaging positions, it being assumed that the work to be acted upon has been positioned on the bag I8 of this left-hand press.

A further counter-clockwise rotation of pedal I32 shifts the pedal valves to their positions represented by the left-most pair of valves I24, I26 in Fig. 11. This admits air under pressure to bag I8 of the left-hand press, in Fig. 2, thereby to effect pressing of the work therein. Simultaneously, the cylinder 90 associated with the righthand press is opened to atmosphere, to permit gravity elevation of the abutments 40, 58 of this latter press thereby releasing the work therein for removal. The bag of the right-hand press continues to be open to atmosphere, and the cylinder 60 associated with the left-hand press continues under pressure.

Next, a clockwise return of pedal I32 toward its neutral position of Fig. 12 maintains the inflated condition of the bag I8 of the left-hand press, in Fig. 2, until the neutral position has been passed and the valves brought to their positions shown by the pair of valves next to the right of the middle pair in Fig. I I, at which time the bag of theleft-hand press will be open to atmosphere. During all of this clockwise rotation of the pedal, the cylinder associated with the left-hand press is maintained under pressure.

Simultaneously with the venting of the bag I8 of the left-hand press, in Fig. 2, air under pressure is admitted to the cylinder 90 associated with the right-hand press, thereby to lower the abutments 40, 50 of this press against the work which will have been inserted therein. Then, when the pedal is further depressed clockwise, the valves assume positions as indicated by the pair of valves farthest to the right in Fig. 11. Bag I8 of the right-hand press now is inflated, and the cylinder 90 associated with this press continues under pressure. The bag I3 of the left-hand press continues open to atmosphere, as does the cylinder 90 associated with the left-hand press.

Counter-clockwise return of the pedal toward its neutral position of Fig. 12, maintains the bag of the right-hand press inflated and the cylinder I associated with that press under pressure until the neutral position has been passed.

Preferably, the hub of pedal I32 is provided with the two notches I66, and a spring-backed detent I68 snaps into one or the other of the notches when the lever is in intermediate positions corresponding to the valve positions illustrated immediately to the right and to the left of the middle pair of valves in Fig. 11. This enables the operator to be aware of these intermediate positions, so that the pedal may be allowed to rest stationary for any desired period of time.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, that I have provided an extremely efli-cient shoe press whose inflatable and deflatable bag may be quicklyand effectively modified as to its surface contour to adapt the press for handling shoes whose heels may vary greatly in height and shape, and wherein the abutments against which the work is pressed, and the bag which applies the pressure, automatically respond, in timed relation, to actuations of a pedal. The bag may be adjusted relative to the abutments, and each abutment is readily independently adjustable to accommodate various shapes of work to be acted upon. Also, the abutments as a unitary structure may be quickly and variously adjusted relative to the inflatable bag.

Furthermore, the various features of the invention are disclosed in an embodiment having two presses operative in timed relation by a single operator who conveniently can remove work from one press, and re-load it, while the other press is applying pressure to the work therein.

- I claim as my invention:

1. In a shoe sole press having fore and aft abutments and an inflatable bag arranged and adapted to receive work between them, means supporting said abutments comprising a member pivotally supported at one end and having said abutments adjustably supported on the member in spaced relation outward of the pivot, a block slidably mounted on said pivoted member for movements along the member, an element supported above the pivoted member and having swivel connection to said block, 'said element being vertically slidable in its support for rocking said pivoted member about its pivot thereby to move said abutments toward and from said bag, an actuating lever pivotally mounted adjacent to said slidable element and having a relatively short lever arm pivotally connected to said element, another arm of said, lever having substantial extent at the opposite side of the pivot of the lever and strongly tending by gravity about said pivot in direction to elevate said slidable element, pivoted means constantly opposing said gravitational tendency of said extending arm of the lever, and pneumatic means connected to said pivoted means and operative to move said extending arm of the pivoted lever in opposition to its said gravitational tendency thereby to apply downward thrust to said slidable element, said downward thrust being applied to said pivoted member between its pivoted end and its free end thereby to move said abutments toward said bag, and means for adjusting the limit of downward travel of said slidable element thereby to adjust the lower limit of movements of said abutments.

2. In a shoe sole press having fore and aft abutments and an inflatable bag arranged and adapted to receive work between them, means supporting said abutments comprising a member pivotally supported at one end and having said abutments adjustably supported on the lever in spaced relation outward of the pivot, a block slidably mounted on said pivoted member for movements along the member, an element supported above the pivoted member and having swivel connection to said block, said element being vertically slidable in its support for rocking said pivoted member about its pivot thereby to move said abutments toward and from said bag, an actuating lever pivotally mounted adjacent to said slidable element and having a relatively short lever arm pivotally connected to said element, another arm of said lever having substantial extent at the opposite side of the pivot of the lever and strongly tending by gravity about said pivot in direction to elevate said slidable element, a bell-crank lever pivoted below said extending arm of the pivoted gravity influenced lever, one arm of the bell-crank lever engaging the said extending arm of the pivoted actuating lever, pressure-responsive means connected to the other arm of the bell-crank lever, and means for causing pressure actuation of said pressure-responsive means to depress said abutments, and for inflating said bag after the abutments have reached the lower limits of their travel.

3. In a shoe sole press having fore and aft abutments and an inflatable bag arranged and adapted to receive work between them, means supporting said abutments comprising a member pivotally supported at one end and having said abutments adjustably supported on the lever in spaced relation outward of the pivot, a block slidably mounted on said pivoted member for movements along the member, an element supported above the pivoted member and having swivel connection to said block, a sleeve threadedly engaging said element, a support mounting said sleeve for vertical sliding movements, an actuating lever pivoted adjacent to the sleeve and having one arm pivotally connected to the sleeve, said actuating lever having another arm extending a substantial distance outward from its pivot and tending by gravity in a direction to elevate said sleeve, and means for moving said extending arm of the actuating lever in opposition to its said gravitational tendency thereby to rock said pivoted member toward said bag, and means supporting said bag including a supporting member which is adjustable relative to the remainder of the bag support.

' SAVERIO J. CAMPIONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

